FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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How/when did you get started?
I have a B.A. in Writing with a minor in Photography from UCSD and a B.F.A. in Illustration. My first real step towards working as a professional creative was taking extension classes at a local art school . While working full time, I built a portfolio to apply to art school and decided to go back for a second degree. While in school, I worked three internships and started taking on freelance work. I cannot recommend doing an internship enough. I met lots of amazing people and mentors who are still friends today. 

After I graduated, I worked for a year and a half as an in-house print designer at a fashion university, and then another year and a half as an in-house packaging designer at Mattel. While working full time, I continued to take on freelance work and develop personal work. I started participating in craft fairs and comic conventions, which gave me a deadline outside of client work to force myself to make personal work and continue working on my craft. A point came where I basically had two full-time jobs and I realized prolonged sleep deprivation turns you into a miserable human being. After much thought and preparation (saving those dollar bill$), in October 2014 I decided to take the leap and work for myself as a full-time freelancer.

Which artists do you look to for inspiration?
I have a lot of favorite artists from a variety of fields whom I look to for inspiration. These artists include: Mary Blair, Charley Harper, Henri Matisse, Rene Gruau, Fred Moore, M. Sasek, Alice and Martin Provensen, Alain Grée, Robert McGinnis, Saul Bass, Jean Gabriel Domergue, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Wes Anderson, Francesca Lia Block, Wong Kar-Wai to name a few.

It should be said that most of the time now, I don't look to other visual artists in the same field as I am for inspiration. I think looking to other artists and trying on different styles is great in the beginning of your practice, but eventually you need to stop looking or you just become a copy of a copy.


What do you do when you get art block (the eternal struggle)?
I stop making art. I change course, and I take a break for a walk, focus on something else (usually something menial like washing the dishes or doing laundry), or if it's a real big fat mean art block, I'll schedule a weekend trip or a long vacation. I read. I meditate (I'd highly recommend the Calm app). I talk it out with friends. It helps to have hobbies outside of art to also keep yourself inspired and refreshed.

Where did you learn your gouache technique?
While in art school, I took an amazing gouache techniques class with a master painter, Mike Humphries. He painted the backgrounds on the Hunchback of Notre Dame and many other Disney films. I learned a lot of great techniques, and then it was through a ton of hours of practice and trial-and-error in the last ten years.

At what point did you think, "Yea! I AM a professional artist"?
When I got my first paying job to draw something. However, I think you’re an artist the moment you decide you are! You don’t have to be a professional to be an artist.

Where do you get your prints printed? What printer/paper do you use?
I make my prints in my studio, on a large format archival ink Epson printer like this one. Depending on the print, I either use Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper or Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper.

What brushes and paint brands do you use?
I use Winsor & Newton Designers' Gouache for painting. Gouache can be tricky to learn, and if you're used to painting with acrylics, Acryla Gouache is a good stepping stone to learn gouache – I like Holbein Acryla Gouache or Turner Acryla Gouache. It acts more like acrylic paint when wet, and then dries to a nice flat matte, like gouache.

For brushes, I like Da Vinci, Princeton Select, Trekell, along with some tiny nail art brushes my friend gives me from Hong Kong. I also clean my brushes frequently with this good old fashioned brush cleaner, which probably hasn't changed its packaging since 1910.

Do you do personal commissions?
No, I am not taking personal commissions at this time. If you’re a business looking to work together on a commercial project, then please feel free to contact me via email – click here for more information.